Review by Ben Harwell & Scott Cornell | Photos by Scott Cornell

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On a cold and wet Saturday evening in Minneapolis, The Fillmore hosted the one-night-only "Spirits" tour, bringing warmth, positivity, and a sense of community for fans of hard rock and metal, all in the shadow of Target Field.

The dynamic atmosphere of the venue was heightened as stage lights broke through a subtle haze, setting the tone for an electrifying performance. San Diego's post-hardcore quartet, Thousand Below, burst onto the stage with an energetically driven 30-minute set. The band appeared at ease as if they called the stage "home," and vocalist James Deberg wasted no time moving from one end of the stage to the other.

Deberg's impressive high-range vocals complemented guitarist Josh Thomas' driving yet melodic riffs, which contrasted perfectly with drummer Max Santoro's and bassist Josh Billimoria's rhythm section. This attention-grabbing tactic has become a staple in the formula for the hard rock genre. Fans harmonized with the band's emotionally charged lyrics and embraced the combustible nature of the set's breakdowns.

During "Chemicals," the lights served as a cool effect for the song, adding to the overall experience. Additionally, Billimoria's headbanging skills were exceptional and contributed to the show's high energy.

Thousand Below's impressive range of skills was on full display throughout the set, and every song sounded great with minimal noticeable adjustments. The crowd was particularly vocal during "Sabotage," which was welcomed with cheers from all corners of the venue, as fans sang along to the opening chords. Thousand Below's explosive set proved to be a highlight of the night, leaving fans buzzing with excitement long after the last notes had faded.

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Crown the Empire's performance was an experience to remember. The four-piece band hailing from Dallas, Texas took to the stage, playing second in the lineup. Vocalist Andrew "Andy Leo" Rockhold, guitarist Brandon Hoover, bassist Hayden Tree, and drummer Jeeves Avalos certainly brought their A-game.

Moshing and crowd surfing were encouraged from the get-go, and the crowd wasted no time in getting rowdy. The band played their most recent single “Dogma” as well as hit singles "Blurry (Out of Place)” and "What I Am", which set the tone for the night and sent the audience into a frenzy.

As the set went on, the space in the venue grew tighter as more and more fans flocked to the stage to see Crown the Empire. At one point, Hoover even jumped off the stage for a minute to play from the barricade, joining the crowd below.

Rockhold, requested shots for the band be surfed to the stage, low and behold shortly thereafter, a Bud Light tall boy and two shots were handed over the crowd from the back bar to the frontman on stage. Needless to say, the energy in the room was palpable.

Rockhold made full use of the stage, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. He had off-the-charts levels of energy, and it was clear that he was there to give the crowd a show they wouldn't forget. By the fourth song, the guitarists began taking advantage of more of the stage, adding to the already intense atmosphere. Bassist Tree suggested a pit leader be selected who was then instructed to open up the pit as much as possible.

The heaviest song of the night “Dancing with the Dead” was saved for last, and it was clear that the band was leaving everything on the stage. The moshing was at its peak, and the crowd was fully invested in every moment. It was truly a sight to behold.

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The classic four-piece from San Antonio, Texas, Nothing More, headliners and hosts of the "Spirits" tour (which shares the name of their most recent studio album) took to the stage after a nostalgic intro featuring “Mr. Sandman” by The Chordettes. The band, consisting of Jonny Hawkins on lead vocals, Mark Vollelunga on guitar, Daniel Oliver on bass, and Ben Anderson on drums, treated the crowd to a tight setlist of hits and new material

Hawkins, as always, was decked out in his classic but never-repeating upper body paint. Meanwhile, Vollelunga projected a Dimebag Darrell essence in his look, including his signature missing right sleeve. During "Turn It Up Like," Hawkins used his scorpion rig for the first time to add vocal distortion, atmospheric effects, and additional percussion throughout the 85-minute set.

The crowd was hooked from the start, with incredible energy from everyone on stage. The sound was spot-on, and bassist Oliver was extremely engaged in every song. The band made great use of the stage and the platforms that lined the front edge. A sword-wielding winged skeleton, the tour and album icon, oversaw the show from center stage. A perched drum bookended the stage next to the guitarists which went unutilized until the last song of the set, and the band members had great chemistry, making for a fantastic live show.

During "Go to War," Hawkins displayed even more explosive energy that hooked the audience and at the end of the song, the crowd kept quietly chanting "do we feel safe" going, showing their appreciation for the band's message and their familiarity with the performance. Another memorable moment amongst many memorable moments was when the band covered the intro of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” with Hawkins atop the rig more than 6 feet above his bandmates prompting venue-wide harmonization.

Vollelunga played from the barricade during "Don't Stop," adding to the band's mastery of crowd control and interaction. And during "It'll Be OK," the audience created a phone-lit scene that allowed for a near-total stage light blackout, adding a quiet interlude to the show's atmosphere.

The night ended on a high note, their ever-popular "This is the Time (Ballast)" creating an impactful and resonating spectacle of energy, percussion, and crowd interaction. Using the beforementioned unutilized drums, Hawkins, Vollelunga, and Oliver made their way to the barricade and ended the set with an interactive percussive breakdown. Hawkins threw drumsticks to the audience, firing up the fans even more.

Nothing More's Minneapolis stop on the "Spirits" tour was a night to remember, Nothing More performs with incredible energy and showmanship from start to finish. The “Spirits” tour lineup complements each band’s style, sound, and brand incredibly well. Overall, the "Spirits" tour, brought warmth, positivity, and a sense of community to the Minneapolis audience in an otherwise unsuspecting setting to the untrained eye.